Xreal Air AR Glasses Review: A Snapshot of Features and Performance
Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that blends digital content with the physical world, creating an immersive experience. Xreal is a company that has been making waves in the AR industry with their Xreal Air AR Glasses. With its plug and play compatibility with the Steam Deck and its lightweight design, the Xreal Air AR Glasses promise to bring you a new level of media and gaming experience. Here is my Xreal Air AR Glasses Review.
Birdbath Optics: What You Need to Know
Birdbath optics is a type of display technology that provides a larger field of view (FOV) with reduced distortion, making it ideal for AR glasses. The Xreal Air AR Glasses use Birdbath optics, providing a 46° diagonal FOV and a large, crisp image quality.
Pros:
- Large and Crisp Screen: The Xreal Air AR Glasses project a large, high-definition screen, allowing you to immerse yourself in your own world.
- Lightweight Design: The glasses are lightweight and have a minimal design, making them comfortable to wear for extended periods.
- Steam Deck Compatibility: The Xreal Air AR Glasses are plug and play with the Steam Deck, and they can even help save battery while the Steam Deck’s screen is off. Works with the Nintendo Switch too if you have the right adapter.
Cons:
- Wired: The Xreal Air AR Glasses are wired, which can be inconvenient.
- Limited Compatibility: The glasses have limited software and hardware compatibility, and most mobile phones may not work with them.
- Poor Text Readability: The glasses are not ideal for an additional work screen, as text is hard to read.
- Bright OLED: The OLED is bright, can be uncomfortable for some people.
- Average Speaker Quality: The built-in speakers sound average at best and people around you may be able to hear everything you’re listening to if you crank the volume up, potentially leading to discomfort and privacy issues.
- No Adjustable Myopia: The glasses do not have adjustable myopia, so you’ll need additional prescription lenses. They may also cause headaches after extended use.
- Fragile Software: The Xreal Air firmware updates can break compatibility and sometimes ruin image quality. The device may also refuse to work with certain devices, I’ve had plenty of issues when trying to use them on my GPD Win Max 2.
In conclusion, the Xreal Air AR Glasses are a promising new product in the AR industry, offering a large, crisp screen and a lightweight design. However, they have some limitations, such as limited compatibility, poor text readability and can be expensive if you need prescription lenses to use them. They are more of a big monitor for your face and lack any tracking or smart capabilities. If you’re looking for a new AR experience, the Xreal Air AR Glasses are worth considering, but be aware of their limitations and be prepared for some inconvenience.
Check out my Xreal Air Unboxing Video: